Bucks County Congressman votes to pass legislation adding 1,500 border agents and new equipment to secure U.S.-Mexican border

(Washington, DC) – Today, Pennsylvania Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8th District) voted to pass legislation to beef up border security by adding 1,500 border agents and additional equipment to help stem the flow of illegal immigrants over the border. The increased border security is fully paid for by raising fees on two categories of foreign worker visas.

“Tightening security along the U.S.-Mexican border protects American jobs for American workers,” said Murphy. “Not knowing who is coming into our country is also a serious breach of national security and needs to be stopped.”

Murphy has long advocated for tougher border security. In February, he introduced his bill, The Border Security Act (HR 4622), which increases penalties on crooked border agents who help smuggle illegal aliens over the border – a major threat to national security.

Murphy has also directed his efforts toward punishing employers who knowingly flaunt immigration laws and hire illegal workers. He’s backed efforts to fully fund and make permanent a program known as E-Verify, which allows employers to verify the worker status of new employees.

For Immediate Release, August 10, 2010
Contact, Sara Schaumburg, (202) 225-4276